Robot phonograph



NOV. 9

ROBOT PHONOGRAPH Filed March 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Algaf J VE'NTOR:

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 9, 1937.

1.. J. ANDRES ROBOT PHONOGRAPH' Filed March 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR:

Mfd mze ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ma'tle instrumentCompany, Gratin Begins? Mich, n eorporation of Miehigan :1 relates toimprov ments '11 ns, now known as I .01 therefore pro :ceomplishing such*natien oneg construe :1, actzcal ole e by the elir' h are likely to getout of 411133 invention, in connection with drawings L elevation of 2detail section of the drum winding as texen on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; els iiagrammatic view and wiring dia gram in eonnection with the sectiontaken on the M of Fig". 1;

a is n eection taken on the line 4---# of Fig. mi

Fig, 5 is a circuit diagram of certain wiring ecnnections hetween thedrums.

In the present invention the contact maker comprises e. double drummechanism which is connected to the same shaft which drives thephonograph turntable so that it is easily synchronlzed with a recordcarried thereon. The

post a- I A d5 members and J5 nermelly engageme with each other emi thegear meshes y a somewhat 'wi e1 spur pinion 23 fixed tn the turntable 5so that the er 13 will 011 tinue engagement with mien when the clutchmember H is move out of engagement with the clutch member 55.

To disconnect the clutch members a remote control means comprising arelay 21 mounted in the casing l attracts the end of the lever 89 whenenergized, raising the gear i3 and the upper clutch member i4. When theclutch mem" bers are connected the commutator drum 8 is rotatedsynchronously with the record on the turntable.

Arranged in a spiral or helix on the periphery of drum 8 are a pluralityof evenly spaced contact lugs or fingers 2! with a similar series ofcontact lugs on the other drum t. These lugs successively close a seriesof switches it and ill. at the outer sides of the drums t and 9respectively, insulatingly mounted upon vertical bars 28 extendingbetween the casing i and the plate i2. These switchescomprisecooperating spring fingers it and it insulatingly mounted on thevertical bars 28 and normally separated but pressed together to makecontact when the corresponding lugs on the drums move in contact withcam projections 31] provided on the inner fingers iii which ride on thesurfaces of the drums.

To rotate the second drum 9 one step at each complete rotation of thecylinder t, a gear 32 is pinned to the lower end of shaft Ml whichmeshes with the pinion fixed to a shaft Sit carried by the lower plateit. Also fixed to the shaft 36 is a flanged member 35 having a Genevamovement drive pin 3% and a locking cam Elli which cooperate with aGeneva wheel iii fixed to the shaft ill of the other commutator drum t.The drum 9 is therefore rotated from one lug or contact 25 to the nextone to close the succeeding switch it while the drum 8 is moving toopenthe last of its series of switches it and to again close the firstswitch of its series.

Connected at one end to the lower clutch member l5 which is fixed to theshaft it is a spiral spring 39 and the other end of the spring isanchored to apost it fixed in the casing i. The spring is wound toincrease its tension as the first contact drum 8 is driven by the pinionconnected to the turntable. The Geneva mechanism is reversible and toreset the commutator drums to starting position the outer end of thelever 09 is depressed manually or by energizing the relay 2d. Thisreleases the clutchpconnection between the members it and it and permitsthe spring 39 to unwind and rotate the contact drums reverselyto'starting position. To retard .the counter-rotation of the first drumt a spring pressed pawl ll engages teeth of a ratchet gear 32 to providean escapement and a pawl (til mounted on the lower plate it engages astop M in connection with the second drum ii when it is returned andreaches its starting position.

A simple multiple contact construction is thus provided; no operatingwiring or relays are required and to connect the control circuits whichare to be used it is only necessary to connect the correspondingswitches of the two drums to prepare for a particular record.

The necessary wiring for connecting any number of these devices foroperation by the contacts of the drums t and d is extremely simple aswill be apparent by reference to the schematic circuit diagram as shownin Fig. 4. The two contact drums are represented by commutators h and 9respectively; the contact fingers til which are joined together in eachof the series are represented by contact arms til and 38 and the opencontacts 29 are represented by the circles of contact points 8' and t".

A source of current supply represented by a battery it! is connectedbetween the joined inner contact fingers th and it. In actual practice,connections are made only to the contacts it it is desired to use butfor the sake of illustration a bank of twenty contacts or switches it isillustrated. One wire is connected to each one of the switch contacts 8of which a group tit only is indicated; and a similar bank of conductorsi'i is connected to the second series of drum con-. tacts ii Withcontacts closed at both number one contacts of each drum. 9. number oneconaoaaeie v trol circuit is made'up by" connecting across thecorresponding number one contact wires 46 and ii. A circuit will then beclosed from the battery to the number one switchoflthe drum tcorresponding wire it through the number one con-- trol circuit to thewire ti and number one contact of the second drum st and: thence back tothe battery. 4

If there are twenty control circuits on each drum the first twentycontrol circuits are made available by connecting the circuits betweeneach of the wires it to the numberone wire M; the

. circuits 2i-dfi by connectingacross from each iii In operation withthe parts in normal position, the turntable t is put into operation toplay a record and the first drum 8 is continuously rotated insynchronized relation with the playing of the record to close its'serles of switches in progressive relation. At each complete rotation ofthe first drum the seconddrum is partially rotated to close a succeedingswitch of its series. During the second actuation of the first series ofswitches'on the drum t the second switch of the" second series of thedrum 9 is closed; At the third actuation, the third switch of the seconddrum is closed; and so on until each switch of the first series has beenclosed in relation with 'each switch of the second series;

As the operation of a different controlcircuit is thus possible at eachclosing of the switches in the first series the control circuits may beoperated at a large number of closely spaced intervals during theplaying of a record. A great amount of wiring is thus-eliminated. Theonly fixed wiring is the connections between the jointed contacts of thetwo series of switches and the battery; and the circuits actually usedare merely connected between the open ccntacts of the correspondingswitches to the device which is to be operated at that time.

When the clutch operating lever it is moved either manuallyor by therelay M to release the clutch elements it and i5 the spring 39 returnsthe drums to their original or starting position and the operation ofthe record may be repeated either by closing a switch each time therecord is to be played or by automatically repeating the phonographoperation. A simple circuit arrangement for carrying out this operationis shown more clearly in Fig. 3.-

In the type of phonograph illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 there is a motor4 for driving the turntable and a motor 5t! mounted below the arm 2having a driven shaft 59 operating a gearing for actuating the pick-uparm. 2 to and from operating position as it passes over the record. Thespecific structure of this pick-up arm drive is not essential to anunderstanding of the invention, a particular form of such a drive beingshown in my co-pending application for Record repeater, Se-

rial No. 89,049, filed July 6, 1936, but the necessary' mains 5i and 52and a main switch 53. l'he motor 50 receives current from the main 55through conductors 54 and by way of a divided circuit comprising aconductor 55 in which is a mo- 5 mentary or continuous operation switch56 and conductors 521 in which there is a switch 58 actuated by aperiodic shaft 58 on the pick-up arm carriage which makesone completeturn for each movement up the pick-up arm as driven by the motor M. Thisshaft carries a'cam' 50 having a flat or dwell portion 81 engaged by aspring contact member 52 which closes the switch 58 when the springfinger 52 rides on the circular portion of the cam but allows the switchto open when the spring finger rests on the fiat or dwell portion ti.this divided circuit containing the two switches 56 58 is connected tothe opposite main 52 by a conductor fia-through a mercury limit switch.54 which is a part of the cut-oil closed in one limiting position tomakea connection to the motor 50. Also conmooted parallel with the motor 50by con ouctor." G5 and 66 the relay M which operates ver 59.

a connection with the clutch lever is is switch l having a springcontact memvezl by the lever ill to open the switch when t e relay 24 isenergized. The terminalsof this switch are shown connected by conductors"i2 and 32B one side of the battery 45 and to one the switches 2'! whilethe other side of the battery connected to one of the other switches 2E3conductor H. The opening of this switch thereforeprevents the supply ofcur-1 rent from the battery to any of the circuits closed the 3 and 9and therefore prevents the establishment of ircuits through the drum con'tacts wl the drums are being restored by the spring to their originalor starting position.

T L or the turntable motor is first startc arm motor 5!! actuates thepickengage a record on the turntable and ".e pick-up arm is in placethis motor e63. 'mti'i desires; to again operate the lifting it from therecord and re '0 starting position. .lt is at this tioe lay 24 isactuateol, releasing clutch lowing the drums anti Si return Engposition. v I gfizhe parts diagrammatically shown 1!; in the ordinaryposition of to start the phonograph, the switch 6Q 61, the closing ofthe main switch 53; "i9 phonograph motor 8 4. operation cloup arm. motor$0 started by modepres sing the switch 5S which will through the motorEll from the hrougl: conductors fi, 5%, switch 5S, t s so and switch 84to the other main 5 motor will operate the shaft moves single wiperclesire.

this time the relay 2% the main 5i throilg conductors 5-K, 55,, 66, andswitch to the other main 52 the l9 operated to open clutch moon witch 86engaged at or near we record closes a circuit through the 5 icon 58 tomotor for operating pick-up arm and energizing the magnet 24 to restorethe drums 8 and 5 to their starting points as above explained.

If it is desired to continuously repeat the same record the switch ispermanently closed so that after the cycle of operations is completedfor playing the record, which would ordinarily bring the cam 60 to theposition as shown in Fig. 3, in which case the switch 58 would be open,another energizing circuit is closed through the motor and through theswitch 55 by way of cor: doctors 54, 55, 63 and limit switch 61, whichrestarts the motor 50 and repeats the operation automaticaily as long'as the switch 56 remains closeci.

With construction it will be seen that the of a record i completed, andthat while the drums are being returned to their starting posi tion theenergizing circuit for the drum contacts is opened.

ii. In a; multiple contactor for a robot phono= graph. having aturntablefor playing a record, a commutator geared to the turntable to make aplurality of revolutions during the playing of the record, a secondcommutator, and mechanical means actuated by the first commutator havingcircuits dependent upon the first commutator for partially rotating thesecond commutator at each revolution oft'ne first commutator.

2. "ms. multiple contactor for a robot phonograph having a turntable forplaying a record, a rotary commutator geared to the turntable to rotatetherewith, and a second commutator driv en intermittently by the firstcommutator to con nect the first commutator electrically to a oifierentseries of control circuits at each. revoluti 11 thereof eventsmay becaused to occur any one o. a plurality of closely spaced during playingof a record by interconnec tions between the commutators.

3. In multiple contactor for a. robot olrcnograph a turntable forplaying a record, oorrunutator geared to the turntable pluralityrevolutions during the playing of a record, second commutator forclosing cir cuits depentiing also upon the first commutato and Genevamovement driving connectio tween the commutators so that the secondmutate is rotateci one space at each revolution of the conimutator.-

in, multiple contactor for a robot phonm graph having a turntable forplaying a 21923623 acomm'utator driven by the turntable make pluralityof revolutions during the playing of a recorifi, a second commutator, aGeneva znovcment gearing connecting the commutators so that the secondcommutator is rotated to make a contact each revolution of the firstcommu tater, a clock spring tensionecl by the rotation first commutator,pawl for stopping coun ovement second commutator at the position, andmeans for disconnecting the commutator from the turntable to ailow sprig to rotate the comniutators back the starting position.

5.. a multiple contactor for a robot phonegrapuo. turntable having apinion, a commu tater, a gear meshing with the pinion, a clutch forconnecting the commutator to the gear, a, torque spring connected to thecommutator, and mm for stopping the return movement of the coutatorunder the action of the spring'when the ciutch is released so that thecommutator will thereby be returned to its starting position and thusreset for the next playing of the record.

6. A multiple contactor comprising two commutators, a series of switchesrelated with each commutator, a source of electrical energy, one sidedeach series of switches being joined and connected together through saidsource, and means for partially actuating. the second com mutator toclose anew switch thereof in series with a circuit including said sourceoi energy and a switch of the first commutator at each completeactuation of the first commutator.

7. in a multiple contactonthe combination of two rotatably mounteddrums, a series of switches related with each drum so that the switchesof each series are closed successively by rotating the correspondingdrum, and means for rotating one drum, the other drum being partiallyrotated progressively by the one drum and the switches of "bothdetermining the circuits closed.

ii. The combination oi a pair of cylinders each having ahelicallyarranged series of contact lugs, a row of switch membersarranged longitudinally along each cylinder so that the switches in eachrow are closed successively by the lugs of their related cylinders, 'aplurality of control circuits, one side of said switches being connectedtogether and through a source of electrical energy, and said circuitsbeing connected between the open sides of the two rows of switches, andmeans for partially rotating one cylinder progressively in relation tothe rotation of the other cylinder.

9. in a multipie contactor 'for a robot phonograph having a turntablefor playing a record, commutating means for successively energizing aplurality of control circuits in coordination with the playing of therecord, said means comprising a pair of rotary commutators each having aplurality of spaced contact fingers, the first commutator being drivencontinuously through a phi-- a rotary coutator having a plurality ofspaced contacts for energizing controlledcircuits in coaoaaaraordination with the playing of the record, the commutator being gearedto the turntable; and a second commutator also having a plurality ofspaced contacts and driven through an arc corresponding to the spacesbetween the contacts at each complete revolution of the first commutatorto .aflord connections from the first commutator contacts to a difierentseries of circuits at each revolution thereof so that actions may bethereby initiated at any one of a plurality of closely spaced intervalsduring the playing oi a record.

ii. In a multiple .contactor for a robot phonograph having a turntablefor playing a record, a commutator, a clutch for connecting thecommutator to rotate with theturntable, a second commutator, anintermittent gearing connecting the commutatcrs so that the secondcommutator is rotated to make a new contact at each rotation of thefirst commutator, means for returning the commutators to an initialstarting position corresponding with the starting position of therecord, and means to release the clutch when the record is played to,enable the spring to return the drums to their starting position.

12. In a multiple contactor for a robot phonograph having a turntablefor playing a record, a pick-up arm and'a motor for moving it to andfrom record engaging position, a plurality of commutators driven by theturntable, each having a series of contacts, intermittent gearingconnecting the commutators, a clutch for connecting the commutators tothe turntable, and a. relay actuated when the pick-up arm motor isactuated to release the clutch, and means for returning the commutatorsto initial position when the relay is actuated.

a diiienent series of control circuits at each rotation thereof, asource of current supply connected between the contacts of thecommutators and including a separately operable switch, a clutchmechanism for releasing the connection of the first commutator to theturntable including an operating lever which controls the said separateswitch, and a relay for actuating the lever to release the clutch andopen the said switch when the relay is energized.

LLOYD J. ANDRES.

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